(Edited down from the original by Ted Loder from his book, Tracks in the Snow, 1985, 1997, Innisfree Press, Inc).
Read by Winton Boyd on December 28th, 2008
Consider, if you win, two old women walking to lunch, as snow begins to fall. Could they be … ‘?
“It’s snowing, Rose,” observed one of the women named Phoebe.
Rose, the other woman, engaged in what truly were her own thoughts, mumbled to herself, “Do you think green would match the trees if I opened the door to sneeze when the gardener squeezed and the air is nice if it’s blue as ice but Mrs. Vassick ain’t so full of spice and … ” Continue Reading »
Preached by Winton Boyd on December 21
Luke 1 (text at end of sermon)
In our recent Tuesday night prayer class, we had a session on prayer and music. We shared music and talked about music’s role in our lives. I was sharing with the group that one time early in our marriage; Tammy and I were driving to her grandmother’s farm in southwestern North Dakota. In the cassette player was a tape of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. I was struck as we drove through the rolling, golden wheat fields of that remote region in this country about the juxtaposition of South African freedom music and Midwest farming. I wondered if music such as this had ever been played on these plains. An arrogant thought perhaps. But I also thought there was something fitting about music from one end of the world being played at the other end – survivor music in among survivor farmers and ranchers. Continue Reading »
In this third week of Advent, we are just now starting to read and hear the stories of Christmas that sound familiar. It is good that we read them every year, though, because sometimes no matter how hard we try, it is just hard to get the story right.
We can take comfort, however, in knowing we are not alone. You may have heard earlier this month that even the White House has trouble getting the stories right. Apparently, after sending out a Hanukkah card, the White House had to send a second card with the statement, Please accept our apologies, the card you previously received had the incorrect illustration on it. Turns out the first card had a picture on the front of a horse drawn cart bringing a Christmas tree to white house.
Lest we commit the same faux pau, let’s revisit this somewhat familiar story to see what is actually here. Continue Reading »
There is something about the first snowfall of the season that fills me with a sense of awe and delight. Two weeks ago, Monday, as soon as I woke, I could feel that something was different outside. There was a brightness shining through the shade of my window and I walked down the stairs with anticipation of what I might see. And sure enough it was the brightness of the snow that filled our house with a warmth and calmness that made the quality of that morning easy to move into. Because of the snow, we started our morning in a different way. Our children, Gabriel and Lily, were very excited and received the first snowfall as an amazing gift from nature. Change was in the air! Continue Reading »
The Search Committee will be receiving profiles from interested candidates until February 1st. If you have questions, please email Rich Hamann (chair) at rchamann@yahoo.com
Associate Pastor for Congregational Ministries/Director of Congregational Ministries
Half Time
Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
1501 Gilbert Rd
Madison, WI 53711-3515
Vibrant Open and Affirming congregation seeks part-time individual to facilitate the best of our communities’ gifts as we seek to strengthen congregational care, deepen our spiritual growth and better organize our outreach and social justice work. Join strong pastoral staff and dedicated lay leadership in a progressive congregation with a mission to be spiritually alive, joyfully inclusive and committed to justice. Ordained and lay persons are encouraged to apply.
All Candidates are asked to use the UCC profile form:
Sunday Morning Schedule 9:00 am : Education for all ages; nursery care 10:00 am : Worship, Music program for children through 7th grade; nursery care Directions to ORUCC
